DM Alexander Kilcoyne's Sargavan Saga

Game Master Alexander Kilcoyne

Yeah - Superstitious can be a drag when it comes to helpful magic, but thems the breaks ;)

I do like the flavor of it: that Tebati would have to get Qhude calmed down before she could even cast a cure on him. Fortunately, channeling positive energy isn't a spell; the wording is quite specific. (I'm assuming AK is on board with the interpretation that superstitious barbarians aren't forced to save vs. channeling. He's in the game with my barbarian and didn't protest the DM's ruling.)

I do like the flavor as well and the channeling is an interesting corner case. The benefit of the ability applies to spells, supernatural and spell-like - while the negative applies only to spells.

So RAW it looks like channeling or things like Bit o' Luck are ok.

I can't stand confusion effects ... used against the party, anyway. A game I was in, the ranger was confused, rolled "attack nearest creature," and proceeded to axe murder the party sorceress way past negative Con in a single round. Hardly seems sporting to use it even against the bad guys.

I had that happen to my character on a Neverwinter Nights 2 Persistent World online server once. Thankfully it wasn't a perma-death server. Even so, I kind of enjoy it when my PCs get dominated or confused and then cause the party grief! Though preferably it doesn't get anyone killed, including me.

Next time, I'll be certain to phrase it as, "We need to stay near Ansha so she can protect us." Honestly, I think it's funny the way Tebati talks about the need to coddle Ansha right in front of her, as well as her assumption that she's Kieran's particular charge. Still thinking of him as her bodyguard, apparently. :)

Ansha is so not amused by this, though she does love her retinue.

As Jakob has bless covered, I was thinking of switching Tebati's slot out for bane. Downside is that to get the most efficient use out of it, she has to be surrounded by enemies. Or should I keep bless since we're spread out so much and won't be able to get everyone in a single effect?

Bane could be useful, and not everyone in the party even necessarily needs Bless. Ansha rarely makes attack rolls, Jakob and Tebati are often spell-slinging; if Kieran, N'Bellocq and Qhude got it, it should be enough. Plus, if really necessary, Jakob could waste a second spontaneous spell to cast it again.

VS channels is fine. I did look up the issue for Nuveril in LoF I admit :).

One thing to note for Mark in case he missed it- the +2 bonus on will saves while raging doesn't stack with superstition as they are both morale.

DM AK - roger that, though by the time I get the rage power (level 4) I'll have a +4 due to the Human favored class ability in APG, and the increase built into the ability (every 4 levels).

So it will still be a net increase - plus it adds on to Fort and Reflex saves too.

Yeah its an extremely good rage power, just wanted it noted that it doesn't stack :).

Sorry my pace is a little slow today/yesterday. Running a mass combat in my Kingmaker game quite cinematically and the long posts take up a fair amount of my posting time. Its essentially the finale stage of this second chapter and I hope my players are enjoying reading it as much as I am writing it :).

Link if anyones interested

Kudos on the battle descriptions DM AK - there's some good work in there!

I thought you loved all your PbPs equally, Alex. ;P

Joana: We are but AK's orlorn orphans lost and forgotten in the woods. Snif.

PS. Qhude Re: list of things Jakob needs. Sorry couldn't come up with a thing that didn't sound like winging or Kirk. I'll keep you posted if anything springs to mind.

The rest of the evening he passes more or less in a relaxed manner. The rogue does, however, spend at least a small part of it taking Ansha up on her offer of a game or two of cards or dice, asking Tebati if she would join them and even suggesting a small wager now and then to make it a little more interesting.

It should be pointed out that Ansha cheats at both cards and dice, having a deck of marked cards and superior-quality loaded dice.

Kieran Markavien wrote:

The rest of the evening he passes more or less in a relaxed manner. The rogue does, however, spend at least a small part of it taking Ansha up on her offer of a game or two of cards or dice, asking Tebati if she would join them and even suggesting a small wager now and then to make it a little more interesting.

It should be pointed out that Ansha cheats at both cards and dice, having a deck of marked cards and superior-quality loaded dice.

It all becomes clear! Kieran's whole relationship with Tebati has been an elaborate sting, just suckering her in until Ansha could rob her blind at games of chance before the two of them vanish into the jungle, laughing at her gullibility. Three weeks seems like a large investment for a return of less than 30 gold, of course. Perhaps they should have targeted N'bellocq's late lamented Lola. ;)

Will post in the game thread in an hour or so. About to leave for lunch.

We had a gas leak scare in our building today so i've not been around much.

Expect an update later today or failing that, tomorrow. I only have a couple of hours before I turn in so probably tomorrow.

What a horrible day :(.

Do hope it wasn't as bad as my night.

DM Alexander Kilcoyne wrote:

What a horrible day :(.

Do hope it wasn't as bad as my night.

I hope for both of you that things have gotten a tad better.

I really have no idea how to arbitrate the actual card/dice game, or how marked cards or loaded dice mechanically affect the outcome. I'm also assuming, since the APG gives only one price for superior loaded dice--and a range of possible Perception DCs to notice--that Ansha's dice are DC 30 versions.

Here are the Quick Gambling rules from Shadow in the Sky.

As you say, I have no idea how to factor in the results of Ansha's cheating implements. Perhaps give her a sizeable bonus to her roll? Also, I know nothing about gambling, let alone cheating at it, but wouldn't loaded dice have the same biased results for everyone who rolls them, if we're only using Ansha's set?

I'm in the same boat--I know next to nothing about gambling, let alone cheating at it. Trying to find a game that would benefit only one person with a set of loaded dice took some effort. I think that craps would work, since you're calling numbers out, and then trying to roll them. If only one person knew what numbers the dice were predisposed to roll toward, they could call those numbers under the assumption that those numbers would come up more frequently. Marked cards in a game of poker might have been easier, honestly.

Ah. Didn't even bother to follow your link to the rules. I thought you always wanted to roll seven. Or eleven. All I know about gambling I learned from casino scenes on TV shows.

I would think either giving Ansha a hefty bonus to her roll or allowing her to take 20 on it due to loaded dice would work. Of course, she could also choose to lose when she wanted to, to keep the yokels from getting suspicious.

I hope for both of you that things have gotten a tad better.

I'm assuming AK's bad day was work-related. (Hopefully, there wasn't anything on top of that). My night involved an 8-year-old with stomach flu, a lot of laundry and carpet-cleaning, and not getting to bed until 5 AM. There hasn't been any vomiting for 48 hours, so that's always an improvement. :)

Sadly, though, I've had to pull my bard out of the other campaign, leaving me down a game. Everyone wants me to roll up a new character to replace her, but it feels like being taken to pick out a new puppy on the way home from having your old dog put to sleep. I liked her, even if she couldn't get along with the new boss. :(

AK.
Sorry to hear about the troubles serpents skull is having. It is an amazing campaign to lurk and I hope it keeps going.

Thanks. I'm giving Jeremeziah a bit of time to re-surface but if not I will probably continue it. Just need a bit of a break from it as i'm discouraged.

Yeah it was just work stuff, not as bad as Joana's :).

Unless your really interested in seeing how much GP you win and lose off each other, i'd just play it as Ansha seems suspiciously lucky with the dice, unless you can make the DC30 perception check or possible a sense motive VS Ansha's bluff.

Despite my radio silence in the IC, i'm currently working on this game. You just can't see it yet :).

VS channels is fine. I did look up the issue for Nuveril in LoF I admit :).

Not surprised.... *delurk*

AK, I just got handed you as an example of how to build an inquisitor. Way to set unreasonable standards. ;P

AK, I just got handed you as an example of how to build an inquisitor. Way to set unreasonable standards. ;P

Ha, just went through your posts and found it. Nice! I'm pretty sure Nazard is referring to Morghrim who isn't as optimised as Maysalkirii was, but hes still pretty darn effective.

Unless your really interested in seeing how much GP you win and lose off each other, i'd just play it as Ansha seems suspiciously lucky with the dice, unless you can make the DC30 perception check or possible a sense motive VS Ansha's bluff.

I can't help but think of the scenario playing out something like this clip from Cowboy Bebop where Faye and Jet are playing Chou-Han, and Faye is using a magnetic ankle bracelet to cheat him out of his clothes. Best line is when Spike points it out and says "You could at least give him his clothes back," and she replies, "I'll rent them to him."

It'd probably be IC for Ansha to attempt to win money as opposed to just doing it for fun. Especially if she's bothering to cheat.

Just tell me how much Tebati needs to hand over. She wouldn't play more than a hand or two as long as she's losing. 17 Wisdom would kick in and keep her from throwing good money after bad.

Hey, two (in-game) days until Jakob's birthday! Will he make it to age 21 without being sacrificed to demons or sold into slavery? :)

It is only mid morning and he is risking the wrath of Ansha so I am making no promises.

Joana wrote:

AK, I just got handed you as an example of how to build an inquisitor. Way to set unreasonable standards. ;P

Ha, just went through your posts and found it. Nice! I'm pretty sure Nazard is referring to Morghrim who isn't as optimised as Maysalkirii was, but hes still pretty darn effective.

Being told, "You should build such-and-such a character; I saw Alexander Kilcoyne play one once, and it's super-effective!" is like being handed a box of chalk and told, "Hey, look what this guy did with that stuff!"

Guys, due to work being a bit too time-consuming these days, I will be posting a bit more sparsely for the next 10-15 days. Just thought I should give you a heads up.

Large update tomorrow, its 3AM here and my father and girlfriends father drunk far too much vodka together, the whole day became very time consuming.

I can confirm that something grisly may be happening to Jakob and Qhude in my update :)

Allow me to proffer this video for your enjoyment.

The growling sense of unease at the sign of caltrops grows into a primal urging when the sound of the horn is heard. Hefting his javelin in his right hand Qhude keeps eyes on the wagon as he calls out "Run fundi... Back to the wagon"

And yet, due to the vagaries of the iniative roll, Jakob will, in fact, be the absolute last to react. :)

Aye - but gives Qhude doesn't know that :P

Yes I have Twice his init mod and I stand here looking like Nouri al-Maliki when the shoes are flying.

ARRG!

I can just see Qhude acting for the second time, yelling, "Dammit, Jakob, I said run!" while Jakob's still standing slack-jawed and flat-footed. ;)

Shhhhh - you'll spoil the plot for those that haven't seen it ;)

Something i've done for most of my PbP characters is use the new parantheses to track HP etc.

Might be worth doing the same- will certainly save me some checking. The Race, Gender and Class lines in your profiles can be expanded to include HP, AC and CMD for example.

It will totally make my life easier if you would do it but its no biggie.

Now i've set up Shortkeys macros to automate perception and initiative rolls, i'd appreciate it if people try and remember to tell me if these bonuses change. I will do an audit at level ups but equipment purchases for example may affect these things without me noticing. Letting me know lets me edit my shiny new shortkeys (I typed the following with six letter commands, its so freaking awesome).

Currently-

Something i've done for most of my PbP characters is use the new parantheses to track HP etc.

Might be worth doing the same- will certainly save me some checking. The Race, Gender and Class lines in your profiles can be expanded to include HP, AC and CMD for example.

It will totally make my life easier if you would do it but its no biggie.

If you want it somewhere easily accessible, I prefer putting HP, etc., in the body of each post, like in Mythril's game, so it's more easily trackable from round to round. Using the race/class boxes changes it for all your posts all the time; there's no way to go back and double-check if you remembered to add in that last channel or hit because you have no record of what your hp were before. Plus, it takes at least three clicks to update (click to profile, click to edit, click to submit), as opposed to none if you put it in the body of the post.

Plus, I just went through and updating all my characters last weekend so their gender, race, and class are filled in uniformly and it looks all nice and neat on my alias page. :P

Yeah putting it up each round as a status is fine.

For me, thats more work as a player really but as a DM as long as the infos available easily its all good.

That must have been a typo, good spot. Jakob is acting by virtue of being alerted by the caltrops basically.

Aw, and we were all mocking him in the OOC for being slow on the uptake and everything. :(

I did wonder about the mocking and everything, should have thought more into it I suppose :)

Ansha's Perception modifier should be +2, rather than +1. This changes the roll in your post a few above to a grand total of Not Really Going To Change A Thing (3), but still.

Its good to know regardless as the rolls above come from a macro which I will now change, thanks.

At least the pugalist is at the front of the fight and the archer is furthest from the fight. Works well for bringing our weapons to bear.

My spies inform me N'bellocq is a mighty 610 feet from the closest enemy.

Fight hard, for Sargava!

-10. Might run for a round or two to close that, just a bit. Still better than Qhude running for 5 rounds to land a punch.

@Qhude

Readying an Action: You can ready a standard action, a move action, a swift action, or a free action. To do so, specify the action you will take and the conditions under which you will take it. Then, anytime before your next action, you may take the readied action in response to that condition. The action occurs just before the action that triggers it. If the triggered action is part of another character's activities, you interrupt the other character. Assuming he is still capable of doing so, he continues his actions once you complete your readied action. Your initiative result changes. For the rest of the encounter, your initiative result is the count on which you took the readied action, and you act immediately ahead of the character whose action triggered your readied action.

I am the Queen of Ready. The only benefit of Ready over Delay is that you get to interrupt the action, but your initiative still changes. (Unless, of course, your Ready condition doesn't trigger before your next turn; then you get a new chance to act on your original initiative.)

Bugger - I'd thought it was only delayed actions that changed the initiative chain. Thanks for once again expanding my rules knowledge Joana :)

So I should be at 14.5 - just after the slaver but before the warriors.